Monday, March 31, 2008

I took my latest chain mail design, entitled "Purple Knights" to work today to get everyone's reaction to it and to see if it needed to be lengthened when the ladies tried it on.

As fate would have it, several of them were wearing purple or coordinating colors and it was great to see it on them. They all seemed to really like it.

This necklace utilizes several of my "Deep Purple" hollow beads and disks in conjunction with a striking Byzantine weave chain which I designed around the beads. A simple "S" clasp is used currently, but I will probably trade it up for a more ornate "S" clasp or a toggle when I get some more in stock.

I wasn't sure I could work beaded sections into a chain mail necklace and have it come out looking like I wanted, but I was apparently wrong. I love how this necklace hangs and I hope this type of design will be very popular at upcoming shows.

I know I promised this would entail a matching bracelet, but I haven't finished it yet (its half done). Actually, I will have three matching bracelets when all is said and done since the size of the beads and length of the beaded sections would have made one bracelet way too big once I started connecting them with chain mail. While I could have worn the larger size, I'm not making bracelets for myself...it would look funny on me.

A Package Arrives

My latest glass order arrived today in a large box that I cannot wait to rip into. With everything going on tonight, I just didn't have time to open it and inventory the glass. It will happen soon I can assure you since I have several new colors and more colors that I've been out of for a while. Lots of cool beads coming soon!

Tomorrow Night

I may not have a posting tomorrow evening since Robert and I going to see a new play at First Folio Shakespeare Festival in Oakbrook. The play we're seeing is "Driving Miss Daisy", and I cannot wait. Having seen the movie several times, I cannot imagine how it would be produced on the stage, but I guess I will find out tomorrow.

If we get home early enough, I will let you know how it was, but the update will probably need to wait until Wednesday night.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

This has been a very busy weekend here with making new beads, chain mail jewelry and updating my website.

New Beads Made (LOTS OF THEM!)

I was on the torch both Saturday and Sunday and created several sets of beads that I'm planning on using for earrings for the upcoming shows. I'll probably add a few pairs of earrings into my Etsy Shop as I get them made since I have made enough for at least two pair of earrings in most of bead set designs.

There are a few of the designs that I'm not sure how they will come out until the beads cool, so I've only got enough of those for a single pair of beads.

I'm very pleased I was able to get so many beads made this weekend since I need to ramp up production for shows. My kiln has been running all weekend with a full load, which is really great. I can't wait to get them out and take a look.

Lots of pictures are coming, so stay tuned for those once I get the beads cleaned and photographed. I'll be photographing the beads before being made into earrings and will be updating the web site with them soon.

Chain Mail Jewelry Update

My necklace ensemble that I started working on Friday night is still in process. The necklace is completed and I think it looks stunning. I'm taking it to work to see how it fits some of ladies there since I'm not sure if I need to extend it or not.

I promise, pictures of the necklace are coming. I'm also working on the design for the matching bracelet which I cannot wait to get started. I think it will be awesome (nothing like confidence, right?).

Web Site Updated!

OK, with everything going on getting applications done for the two art fairs completed, I've neglected my web site a bit over the past week and half or so. So I took a little time on Saturday to update it with several new galleries of pictures.

Come check out all of the new pictures in the site's What's New section!

I hope you all have had a great weekend, and I look forward to talking with you again soon.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

I've got a new jewelry ensemble in the works, and it utilizes my first set of hollow beads that I ever made.

The bead set being used, "Deep Purple", has been rolled in a wonderful frit which gives thema mottled and varied hue; the set also includes coordinating disk beads. I'm so anxious to show it off to you, but I've just started it tonight.

The new ensemble will be a necklace and matching bracelet created in chain mail.

I've been thinking about taking this set of beads out of my shop for a while since I have been visualizing using it a new design, but I wasn't sure if the design in my head would come out looking right or not once it was put together.

I evaluated several different construction techniques and ruled out several of them until I settled on the chain mail design connecting beaded components on sterling silver wire.

I should have the two pieces done by the end of the weekend, and I can't wait to show it to you.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Trying to get items made for upcoming shows is proving a bit more difficult since I've had a lot of business stuff to do on the weekends as well as torch. I'm hoping to get some more items created tomorrow night or start a new necklace that I've been envisioning using hollow beads and chain mail.

Since Friday is usually a slower day posting wise on Etsy, I've decided to list his small cone focal tomorrow as the last new one for the week.

This cone focal is an organic design with a lot of great colors and textures. As you can see from the picture, there are shades of tan, light brown, blue and amber. I added some silver foil into the design which added some patches of silver beads to the surface.

This interesting bead will be added to my Etsy Shop in the morning. If you have any questions, you can check the listing tomorrow or just contact me here at the blog.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

No, I'm not referring to the drink. I'm refer-ring to this lovely and delicate fish that I named "Pink Lady".

This fish is a redesign of my classic fish that I have made in the past with reshaped fins that look more natural and sweep away from the fish's body.

I've also added an additional fin on the underbelly of the fish for better stability while swimming and adding some new design possibilities.

The face shape has much more pouty lips and mouth than the original designs too. This was a bit of an accident since the glass got a little too hot and moved faster than I was anticipating. Once it calmed down a bit, I actually found that I liked the new shape.

Sometimes an accident can be a godsend.

The pink frit used on the body is Peony Pink. The stripes on the body are also Bordello red, but they look darker, almost black, in some lighting.

The fins are Bordello Red and are my favorite part since they are just a luscious, rich red with some orange highlights.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Well, I've got my beads from yesterday cleaned up and there'll definitely be a couple for the Etsy Shop this week. I haven't taken any pictures of them yet, so I can't show them to you until tomorrow.

However, I figured it was time to put up a new item into the shop, so I proudly present "A Mighty Oak".

This large tree focal (biggest of the set I made a week or so ago), features an organic background in a very earthy palette with a large and spreading tree in the foreground. Lush green foliage is draped all around this bead from the tree.

The trunk is quite knobby and large and has a really great shape and depth. The branches are a rich mix of browns, ivories and tans all swirled together for a great mottled tree appearance.

This little gem is being loaded into the shop tomorrow morning, so be sure to stop by and check out all of the pictures.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Well, I've applied for the Naperville Art League's Riverwalk Fine Art Fair. I attended this fair for the first time last September at the recommendation of a co-worker of mine.

I checked it out and was very impressed with the quality if the items in the fair and beautiful setting of the fair along the river. If I get in, I will be amongst some amazing artists in a number of mediums including painting, sculpture, pottery, textiles and of course, GLASS.

Last year there were a number of glass blowers and sculptors present, but only one lampwork jewelry booth. This year I'm hoping to make that two or one (if she doesn't come back). Wish me luck.

It will several months before I know anything, so now I just have to wait and see what happens.

New Glass Ordered

In preparation for attending the two shows I've applied to (so far), I decided to place a new glass order to replenish a number of colors that I've run out of over the year since my last order and get a few new colors into my supply.

It's amazing that I can make beads for a year at a time and still have a ton of glass, but need more since I'm out of so many colors. How can I have so much glass in the basement and not have enough?

Oh well, I guess it's just an artist thing.

Any New Store Items?

Today's torching session was quite productive in that I got some new canes pulled for vines and grapes and created a couple organic beads (one will be stopper, hopefully) and I also created a new fish bead which should also end up being a wine/bottle stopper if it fits. I haven't made a fish in nearly a year, but I certainly haven't forgotten how. I think is one of my best ones yet.

Of course, there will be lots of pictures this week if I don't put anything into my shop. Now that I've taken care of a number of business items, I should have more torch time on Tuesday so that may generate a new store item or two.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Call me old fashioned. Call me crazy. But this looks a lot like winter! I'm not sure I like this new-fangled spring where you can get snow on Easter weekend. So much snow that they send you home from work.

Well, there's always a silver lining, isn't there?

This is my street covered in the powdery white stuff when I got home from work yesterday afternoon. It snowed most of the afternoon and finally tapered off in the evening.

Fortunately, we don't have to shovel much since our association handles most it, but it's still depressing to see the snow back after we have had a few nice days and melted the old stuff pretty much completely.

Now we get to do the whole melting, slushy, muddy back yard for the dogs thing one more time.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

After a bit of trial and error in my bead sizing for the wine stoppers, I have finally managed to create one that works.

I've titled this one "Bountiful Vineyard Wine Stopper" and I hope that you enjoy it.

Resting atop this chrome wine stopper is one of my popular vineyard beads. Adorned with five bunches of luscious grapes, this stopper is sure to please its eventual owner. The rich ivory background has an antiqued background with a great "crackle" effect which gives the piece an Old World feel.

The rubber seal on the stopper works great for keeping wine fresh, but should not be used for long-term storage.

I haven't decided yet if I will be adding this piece to my Etsy shop or keeping it for upcoming shows. I guess you'll just have to check the shop to see if I've listed it!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

I woke up this morning to find that I had a sale from my Etsy shop. I was so happy, and I quickly pulled the item, printed out what I needed and boxed the item for shipping.

Initially, I thought it was a repeat customer that I'd been corresponding with about a a set of beads I had in my shop and a possible custom order. I was very pleased to find that this was a new order and not the one I was expecting.

Once I got to work, I found that I had another sale and this was the customer who wanted the custom order, which I'll be making tomorrow night!

Two sales in one day. I think this is a first for my Etsy career.

After being on Etsy for several months, I'm finding that sales usually come in groups (although not on the same day). I may go for a few weeks without anything, and then, all of the sudden, I'll have two or three orders in a single week. Isn't that funny?

I wonder if the universe is trying to tell me something? Perhaps I'm learning patience.

At any rate, I'm thrilled to have both sales and I'd like to thank my customers for their support. I couldn't do this without you!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

I like to keep my promises. Sometimes it's not always possible, but I like to keep them when I can. Tonight I can.

As promised, I have another new necklace design featuring a warm pendant that reminds me of a lightly colored blonde tiger. The pendant hangs on a long, handmade chain of copper and aluminum in the elegant Byzantine design. Allow me to introduce you to "Blonde Tiger, Chained".

This necklace is long one, over 24 inches, but it's worth every inch. Warm colors just ooze from this design and its especially pleasing to me since I made the whole thing from start to finish.

The copper rings have been toned down a bit in this design by using an aluminum ring in between the copper rings that hold the sections together. I decided upon this design while contemplating making my second chain mail design.

I didn't want to duplicate the same exact chain from the first design, so I opted to make this minor adjustment and see what happened. The result is a little more subtle warmth in the chain that, I think, matches the warm colors in the focal well.

I've posted this necklace, and last night's "Byzantine Twilight" into a new gallery on my web site if you would like to see more of these necklaces.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Today I took two new necklace designs to work to see what they thought of the new chain mail design that I learned at my class a couple weeks back. I wasn't sure what they would think or how they would react, but I wanted to see if they thought the designs was worth pursuing since they're pretty good at predicting what others will buy.

To say that the necklaces were well received, would be an understatement. The loved the necklaces! One of my coworkers, who had seen the rings that I made the chain from, said that she had no idea that this was what I was planning on making with the rings.

This is the first of the two necklaces (the only that is complete at the moment), for your review. I've entitled this one "Byzantium Twilight" since the chain design is a Byzantine weave.

This chain incorporates copper and aluminum rings in the design with an organic focal bead that I made at Bead and Button last year during class. A copper toggle completes the chain and makes putting on and taking it off very easy (since I'm such a klutz!).

This necklace is mine, and I cannot wait to see the reaction of others when I wear it.

I'm planning on having several of these types necklaces made up when I go to shows and see what folks think. The focals can be anything from a large grape or tree bead to a simple organic focal for a more subtle look.

I'm hoping that this particular style will be popular with men as well as women.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Well, I'm winding up a very productive weekend and will soon have pictures to post for you to peruse on my web site and here in my blog.

I worked on a couple of new chain mail designs, at least one is for myself, that I cannot wait to get photographed and show to you all. I have about another hours work to complete the second piece which will probably be used for upcoming art fairs along with another design I haven't started yet which utilizes a tree bead from last week that I have not listed in my shop.

In addition to chain mail, I decided to focus on pieces for shows rather than items for my Etsy shop since I have so many items listed. A week off will give me time to try out a couple of designs that I will need, but haven't perfected.

While I need to purchase jewelry supplies, I have decided to focus on using all of the findings and jewelry supplies I have before the expense of buying more. A very sensible decision, I'm sure you can agree. This means I'll be making more earrings, bracelets, wine stoppers, and letter openers before I start looking into necklaces again.

As you know, I attempted wine stoppers a couple weeks back, but they all came out too tall. Today I made a new one that should be the perfect height. I cannot wait to see how it comes out and display it for you. If this works out, I'll repeat the technique to create the rest of the ones I need. More grapes anyone?

In addition, I'm working on letter openers that I've had for a bit, but am just now trying out beads to see how they work on these unique findings. I haven't decided on the type of beads to use for these, so I made a set of beads rolled in frit to see how they will fit together and look on the opener. This little experiment should let me know if I am on the right track or need to re-think the design a bit.

Tomorrow, I'll be taking the beads out of the kiln, clean them up and possibly start putting together the new pieces. With any luck, pictures should be forthcoming shortly afterwards.

Without any luck, I'll have a sad tale to tell you tomorrow or the next day. Well, let's hope for the best.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Huzzah! My chain mail supplies have finally arrived. I wonder if this is how the knights felt when their packages arrived? Probably not.

Anyway, it's been nearly two weeks since my class, and the rings to complete what we started in class and to design a few other pieces have arrived and are awaiting my attentions.

I started off small with my order since I also need other jewelry supplies, glass supplies and money to apply for more art fairs. Do you know that running your own business takes a lot of money just to get to the places where you can make some?

In the package I received my tools for opening and closing the rings and copper, brass and aluminum rings (in various sizes). I've got a few different designs I'll be trying out in the next few weeks, and pictures will be forthcoming, I promise!

What's New Etsy-Cat? WO, WO, WO, WO!

Tomorrows addition to my shop on Etsy is this tree focal entitled, "Weathering The Storm".

A large, bent and twisted tree awaits the storm that brews in the distance. Dark gray and blue clouds blot out the clear blue sky as sheets of rain pelt the distant landscape. This is not the first storm this wise, old tree has withstood, and it certainly will not be the last!

This is really a wonderful bead that I'm quite proud to be adding to my shop in the morning. As usual, I'll have lots more pictures and information about this focal bead in the shop listing.

Have a great night, and btw, can you name all 6 members of the Oceanic 6?

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Winter has been especially long this year here in Chicago and we've gotten about four years worth of snow in the past few months. That can get really old after a while of having to deal with snow, and salt, and slippery roads, and bitter cold and ... The winter blues just go on and on!

Fortunately, I've created a new talisman that can be used to invoke spring and I may just have to use it if Spring doesn't start soon.

My latest bead in the "Silhouette" series entitled "Talisman Of Spring" has that mystical power to bring Spring (or at least warm thoughts of Spring) to a city near you!

I've trapped the rich, emerald green of spring inside this bead with layer of clear class. Onto one side, a stark, black tree awaits its first new leaves. On the other side, transparent dots have been placed to direct the magical forces into the barren tree and help jump-start this whole process!

As you can see, this bead really sparkles and is should make someone a very happy owner. I'll be loading this beauty into my Etsy Shop tomorrow morning.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Sometimes the moments are at twilight or dusk, other times, early morning. Sometimes, the time doesn't matter at all, just that the moment exists.

My newest tree focal bead has its quiet moment at a sunset. This bead, entitled "Cliffside Sunset", depicts a very twisted, sprawling tree as the sun sets into the western sky. The warm colors of the bead could indicate a western state, like Arizona or New Mexico, but it can be anywhere you like or a sunset that you enjoyed in your childhood under a similar old tree.

As the title implies, the tree sits along the edge of cliff, which gives the viewer of the sunset in the valley below an amazing vantage point. This old tree is waiting for you come sit under it and enjoy the view.

Wouldn't you like to rest a bit?

I'll be adding this bead to my Etsy Shop tomorrow morning, as usual with several new pictures and more bead information.

While I was pondering life all day Saturday from the comfort of my bed, an idea came to me about the types of backgrounds I usually use on my vineyard, tree and raised floral beads. They're always opaque.

What would happen if I created a fully transparent bead with a raised design? What if the back of the bead was textured a bit to bend the light as it travels through the bead?

With those two questions, I created "Silhouette" a new bead series which depicts foreground items, such as trees and vines, as just their shadow while a bright and light catching transparent background is used to highlight the image.

This first bead in the series is entitled "Spring's Early Light". In the foreground, a tree that is bare of foliage still in the early morning hours. In the background, the cold, blue of night and winter is fading on the horizon with the first few light rays of warm sunshine and the promise of more ahead.

That is what this bead means to me and the images it brings to mind. In addition to being very sparkly in the light, the textured back is also really cool to rub against your fingers like a miniature massager. That was an unexpected benefit, but might be a hit with customers. Time will tell.

The transparent core of the bead has been encased twice for additional depth and interest and segregates the colors from the touch of the viewer like a piece of Spring has been trapped forever.

So, now it's your turn. What do you think of the new design so far?

This bead will be added to my Etsy shop in the morning with additional pictures of it from various angles and more information.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Well, another weekend is slowly coming to a close. Did you remember to set your clocks ahead last night for Daylight Savings Time?

While I didn't accomplish everything I had hoped to, I did manage to get a number of things done. I caught up on my sleep this weekend, read a bit, designed (well, obsessed really about) new bead and jewelry designs, and had a very productive time at the torch which will bode well for new items coming to my shop this week.

Alas, they are in the kiln now and will be until morning, so I will not have a new item to list tomorrow. Don't despair, though, since I will have new items on Tuesday morning (if I get the new beads cleaned and photographed, which I will. Positive thoughts!).

I'm following my artistic vision for the new pieces and have created a new series called "Silhouette" which I hope comes out looking like it did in my mind. You'll just have to wait until the beads are done for any more info on this new series.

I've also created several new tree beads today with some great organic backgrounds, at least I thought they were great. You may think otherwise, and I invite your comments on them here on my blog. Please wait to comment until I have actually posted them, otherwise you're just being impertinent.

Anyway, sleep tight tonight and have a great week! More beads are coming, I promise!

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Not all grapes are purple, and as you've seen this week, I've been experimenting with some varied grape colors. Allow me to introduce "Treasure Of Tuscany", a vineyard focal bead in a great cone shape.

While this is not the first red grape bead I've made, it is a stunning bead set against the warm, ivory background. The background has an almost antiqued look to it created during the working of the glass and the heat it received while the grapes, vines and leaves were being added to it.

Set against this warm, neutral palette, rich, inviting red grapes are hanging in the sun. The five grape clusters have a great texture and deep color that is sure to tantalize your senses.

As all of my store items, I'll be listing this gem on Etsy in the morning with lots of pictures and more information on the bead.

I hope you have had a great week, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

This past weekend, I tried a little experiment on a bicone bead that I created. I took banana yellow pastel glass, and encased it with dark emerald green. I wasn't sure what it would look like, but I thought it might be a cool color combo.

Well, once I encased the bead and re-shaped it, I then added, guess what, grape vines and leaves. The result is this bright and fun little bead I'm calling "Glowing Vineyard".

Since it was NOT designed as a wine stopper, it is much smaller than the rest of my beads for this week.

It's decorated with four bunches of two-tone (red and purple) grapes along with the vines and leaves that my vineyard beads are known for.

The background color reminds me of almost the glass color of a 7-Up bottle. I encased it in a number of directions, so the background has some texture to it, like the wind blowing that is rather cool.

I'll be adding this bead to my Etsy shop tomorrow, so I hope you can come take a look.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Have you had enough of the grapes yet? I hope not since I'm having so much fun making these interesting and fun beads. I love how the finished beads look and feel; I get a great sense of accomplishment.

While my wine stopper beads were too big for their intended purpose, I still love how they came out and am very proud to bring you the next one in this series entitled "Harvest Nears".

This bead has a Carrot Red background, which is an odd lot color (not a regularly produced color) by Vetrofond. It is a rich translucent color that had a terrific swirling grain when worked which makes a very nice background.

Against this warm sunset color, the bright purple grapes really contrast and shine. Lots of leaves and twisting vines add a great texture and interest to the bead.

I hope that you will get a chance to visit my shop tomorrow and take a look at all of the pictures of this focal bead.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Tonight, I've uploaded more pictures into my web site's Vineyard Focals 2008 gallery to include last week's beads that were added to my Etsy shop.

A new blog entry on the site was also entered, and if you'd like to check it out, be sure to visit my web site at www.LampOfLuxury.com.

OOPS!

Yesterday, while on the torch I made several new vineyard beads that I was planning on using as wine stoppers. They came out of the kiln this morning and I was really pleased with them. I thought they'd make awesome wine stoppers.

I cleaned each bead and then carefully took them over to the jewelry table and put the first one onto the stopper. The hole was a perfect fit, but...

...the beads are too TALL for the stoppers. I cannot put the ball back onto the end of the rod that runs through the middle of the bead!

I thought I had the lengths perfect, but the beads must have grown a bit when I was shaping them. I'm going to need a better measuring system for making these beads before I attempt them again this weekend.

What's New?

Oh well, my wine stopper debacle isn't about to prevent me from listing the beads I made them. So, for tomorrow's listing I'm putting up one these beads for you to see and judge for yourself whether it would have been a great wine stopper topper (say that 10 times fast!).

"Midnight In The Garden" is the first of these beads that I will be putting up tomorrow. On this bead, the grapes have not fully ripened yet. Ripening red grapes and ripe purple grapes adorn each branch of this vine as the fruit transitions to its full flavor.

Set against a black cone bead, these vines and grape clusters really stand out. Be sure to check out all of the pictures and sizes in my Etsy shop tomorrow!

Sunday, March 2, 2008

My Saturday afternoon chain mail class was a lot of fun and we had a great time. There were only two students (myself included) and the teacher, Vanessa, who was very nice and easy to learn from.

We learned two chain mail patterns, the Box Weave and Byzantine. These are actually two related patterns so once you know how to make one, the other is just a minor adjustment in the weave.

I brought a focal bead that I'd wired up with silver wire as a focal for use in the class. It's a bead I made back in June at Bead and Button, and intend to keep for myself once he chain is created.

I'm afraid the size of the rings used for this particular chain were much smaller than I had envisioned. I'm not sure if I will be completing the chain in this size or upsizing the rings a bit for a more robust (and much faster to make) chain for the bead.

I've got to order some tools and rings before I can complete it, but I hope to have them on order this week.

More grapevines coming!

I followed my bliss today on the torch and created more vineyard focal beads. Most of the focals I created today are intended for use in wine stoppers and are much larger than my recent grapevine offerings.

In addition, I've adjusted the designs a bit and have some surprises for you when the beads have completed annealing.

Tomorrow's new listing in my Etsy shop, continues the grape theme with this bashful focal bead entitled "Vines De Mure".

These purple grapes, are hanging in front of a pastel pink background that is streaked with silvered ivory accents. The background is encased in a clear layer and then decorated with the vines, leaves and succulent grape bunches.

This little beauty will be added to my shop in the morning, and I hope you can stop by and take a look.

About Me

I love the challenge and reward of working with hot glass in my home studio.
I work full-time as a computer programmer and follow my artistic tendencies during my free time and on the weekends.
Color is one of my primary influences in my work and I usually employ bold colors in my designs.
My customers are all over the globe and I always strive to ensure they are treated in the same manner as I like to be when making a purchase.